Eclectic Duo Cibo Matto Goes on Imaginative Journey

*** CIBO MATTO

“Stereotype A�

Warner Bros.

On their 1996 debut album, “Viva! La Woman,� Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori were giddily food-obsessive, serving a buffet of vittles-themed songs delivered in choppy, Japanese-accented English with an off-kilter, samples-heavy presentation befitting their New York art-scene status. On this follow-up (due in stores Tuesday), they’re musically omnivorous--�Stereotype A� is a colorful tour of the American contemporary sonic landscape.

It’s still got the experimental edge, but not what you might expect--though arguably, what bolder a move could they make than to dive headlong into pop music? “Moonlight� could almost pass as a Spice Girls ballad, and it’s not done as parody, but with earnest affection for the form. Other tracks explore hip-hop (“Sci-Fi Wasabi� resembles Busta Rhymes with its hard-edged guitar and booming beat), space-techno (the stutter-step “Clouds�), neo-Beat jazz-funk a la Soul Coughing or Medeski, Martin & Wood (members of both groups guesting) and hard rock (“Blue Train�).

The key is the complete absence of arch irony that would undermine such an effort. The duo’s vocals are surprisingly accomplished and effective, whether in soulful harmonies or staccato raps, and the music (with multi-instrumentalist Sean Lennon--Honda’s significant other--and percussionist Timo Ellis now full band members) is full of imaginative touches. Even the unusual imagery in the often impressionistic lyrics enhances rather than subverts the pop sounds. Pop with substance? Art without cynicism? Either way, it’s some nice stereotype-breaking.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four s (excellent).